NOVEL WEB Chapter 413
It has already been ten days since the operation began.
Sheikh Nasir Al Hassan started to place his trust in me, marking the beginning of our arms deal.
In the Mauritania Continent, the term “Sheikh” refers to a leader. Gaining his trust means, in effect, that the entire Warlord faction is beginning to trust me.
The seeds have been sufficiently sown.
Now, all that remains is to harvest the crops.
—
Episode 16 – The Six-Million-Dollar Man
Nasir is a cautious person.
Before he became a leader of a Warlord faction, he was a politician, businessman, and operative.
Considering that one of the factors for the selection of operatives by information officers is caution, there must be valid reasons and objectives behind Leoni’s training of Nasir as an operative during his active days.
It was a good sign that he, who had been wary of me with his careful demeanor, was now actively engaging in conversation. I judged that it was the right time to bring up some key topics.
If I kept avoiding the subject while the other party was showing focus, they might lose interest.
So, I needed to push forward before any second thoughts crept in.
“If Sanya and Asen directly clash, two scenarios are highly likely to occur.”
In the dialogue orchestrated by Nasir, I approached him with a new business proposal.
The subject of this proposal revolves around the conflict between Asen and Sanya.
The aim is to incite disputes between Group 1 and Group 2 Warlords, thereby restricting the activities of the Kien Empire Information Agency and supporting the friendly Group 3 Warlord.
“When the conflict begins, Asen, who maintains a suitable relationship with Hassan, will likely demand not to interfere in this clash or trade with Sanya. There’s even a chance they may ask for support.”
Nasir nodded silently.
“On the other hand, Sanya has had multiple confrontations with Hassan, so they would be vigilant against Sanya and Asen collaborating. They might threaten to punish Hassan for cooperating with Asen or at least contact them to propose a ceasefire until their dispute with Asen is resolved.”
“I’m not afraid of their punishment.”
The leader of the Hassan Warlord faction dismissed Sanya’s threats firmly.
I calmed him with a gesture and persuaded him in a calm voice.
“But it would be bothersome, wouldn’t it? It’s not like you’re installing a screen just because you’re terrified of insects, right? But the hassle is considerable.”
I continued.
“To sum up, both tribes are very sensitive to Hassan’s movements. This reflects Hassan’s significant influence and means that he can have major impacts on the Asen and Sanya conflict.”
I intentionally elevated Hassan’s authority. This was to put Nasir, who leads Hassan, in a comfortable state of mind.
Flattery can make even whales dance, and there’s no one who dislikes sweet words.
Whether my compliments were mere flattery or not, they didn’t seem particularly unpleasant. Nasir’s expression, which had been slightly tense when I mentioned the potential for conflict with Sanya, relaxed.
“Hmm… That’s true. So what should Hassan do when Asen and Sanya reach out to us?”
“Looking at it simply, aligning with Asen and attacking Sanya would be beneficial.”
I paused briefly to focus his attention.
“Eliminating Sanya may lead to Asen absorbing them, disrupting the balance of power.”
The three main powers controlling this country are the Asen, Sanya, and Hassan Warlords.
While the government exists, the president, who took power through a coup, shows interest only in the happenings around the capital and the government forces rarely venture beyond that area.
In a sense, it can be called an inviolability agreement.
Just like a well-fed lion doesn’t actively hunt.
The government merely presides over the capital, playing the role of a king, while refraining from deeply intervening in the power struggles of the warlords taking place in the provinces. Though they do sometimes mobilize regular troops to attack warlords, there are few cases of serious suppression attempts.
In other words,
This conflict will revolve entirely around Asen, Sanya, and Hassan.
A fierce triangle between warlords.
Remembering this point, I opened my mouth again.
“If you join hands with Asen, it will also benefit Hassan. However, Asen will occupy a much larger share of the conflict’s booty, and should they absorb Sanya, if they targeted Hassan as well…”
I didn’t need to spell it out. Nasir would have understood.
I continued.
“To ensure Hassan gains the most from this, Hassan must remain stronger than both warlords when the balance of power is broken. Joining forces with Asen now would only increase Asen’s size. It wouldn’t establish a dichotomy.”
“That’s the obvious thing to say. But is it possible?”
Nasir asked for a solution. I presented my proposal with a confident tone.
“It’s simple. We need to escalate their conflicts.”
“Aren’t they likely to fight each other over Jamila’s matter anyway?”
Referring to the matter involving Jamila meant the confrontation between Asen and Sanya.
Jamila, the niece of the Asen Warlord leader, extorted money from merchants on the Sanya Warlord side, which led Sanya to raid Asen’s gunpowder production facilities.
I spoke calmly.
“While the gunpowder issue exists, the conflict between Asen and Sanya was bound to explode eventually. What I mean to propose is that we accelerate the timing, so it erupts when we want it to.”
“How?”
The length of the sentences was shortening.
The brevity of the words indicated that he was focusing on what I was saying and trying to analyze it, making sense of my points. Now, it was truly crucial.
“First, I need three things: information, manpower, and supplies.”
I held up three fingers for Nasir to see.
“Explain.”
“I want to know how well Asen understands Sanya and how well Sanya understands Asen. Right now, what’s most needed is priority on the information that Asen has about Sanya.”
Next.
“I also need detailed information on Asen’s major facilities and the hierarchy of its executives. The more detailed, the better.”
Nasir stroked his bushy beard and shifted his gaze to the right.
“I can provide information on Asen’s major facilities and the hierarchy of its executives right now. That information was recently retrieved. However, to understand how well Asen knows Sanya, I’ll need to infiltrate Asen’s intelligence department.”
It seemed Hassan wasn’t aware of this point either. Or perhaps he was unwilling to share that information.
But at least I learned one thing: the Asen tribe operates its own intelligence department.
After a moment of pause, Nasir finally spoke.
“By the way, what do you need the manpower and supplies for?”
“To attack Asen and Sanya.”
I elaborated while I pushed the cigarette ash into the tray.
“After all, hasn’t Sanya previously provoked Asen multiple times? Thanks to Jamila, there’s a good pretext. If we disguise ourselves as one of Sanya’s subordinate tribes and strike Asen, they will prepare for an attack on Sanya. Then, disguised as one of Asen’s subordinate tribes, we can retaliate against Sanya and leak information about their preparations for war to Asen, letting them clash.”
In other words, it was a suggestion to stir up trouble.
“Isn’t there a risk of failure?”
“That’s why I will handle it personally.”
The direct field operation by an intelligence officer carries substantial risks. However, I could manage this level of risk.
Of course, I didn’t intend to recklessly enter enemy territory without a thought. In dangerous situations, having insurance is essential, not optional.
“However, I would need your support, Nasir. I would appreciate two squads composed of elite troops. Selected soldiers with extensive combat experience and a firm mouth.”
“Hmm…”
Nasir pondered over my request for manpower support. He was probably considering the backlash if the operation failed and it was uncovered that Hassan was behind it.
That was a perfectly reasonable concern. I empathized and understood his predicament.
So, I made a proposal.
A sweet suggestion he couldn’t refuse.
“If we attack Asen and Sanya and retreat immediately, even if the operation fails, there will be no trace of Hassan left behind.”
That meant a lower risk.
Nasir, it seemed, closed his eyes and crossed his arms while deep in thought.
There are differences among individuals; some can sway a person while they are deep in thought to reverse their decision, while others might only provoke opposition. Typically, when someone is easy to persuade or has strong ties, it’s possible to encourage a thoughtful individual toward a favorable outcome.
What kind of relationship do Nasir and I have? Can the cautious Nasir truly put unbounded trust in me?
I wasn’t sure, but it was worth trying. I gradually began to coax the pensive Nasir.
“If this operation is successful, Hassan will gain control over all essential facilities of Asen and Sanya.”
Hassan possesses ammunition, gunpowder, and firearms production facilities. However, all these facilities are relatively smaller compared to Asen’s.
The situation is no different regarding drug cultivation facilities. The Mauritania Continent is home to high-quality poppies, and the poppies grown here are the raw materials for magical potions mixed with synthesized drugs known as the demon’s whispers, the witches’ kiss, and angels’ tears. While Hassan cultivates poppies, the warlord with the largest poppy cultivation facility is not Hassan but Sanya.
Knowing this fact, Nasir was actively focusing on expanding various facilities. However, as the saying goes, when a cousin buys land, it can be painful. The rivals eyeing Hassan’s growth wouldn’t stand idly by.
While Hassan is indeed a massive warlord, Asen and Sanya are on an altogether different level.
The Sanya warlord has received significant financial and military support from the Empire’s Information Agency due to their pro-Empire stance. Asen, known for supporting continental centrism, would need no further mention. Domestic and foreign supporters sharing the same ideology would generously provide financial and material resources for the “revolutionary comrades resisting foreign powers.”
On the other hand, Hassan lacks a solid backing. Abas may have supported Hassan in the past, but since two decades ago, he had effectively withdrawn his support. The Leonie who had trained Nasir as an operative had also cut ties upon completing her missions and moved to other regions.
Thus, for Hassan to not fall behind in competition and to grow, he needed to seize this opportunity.
I decided not to mention that fact. After all, it was an unnecessary complication. So, I waited for Nasir to connect the dots on his own.
“…”
Perhaps having organized his thoughts, Nasir released his arms and suddenly asked me.
“What about the equipment? What do you need?”
“There’s a particularly aggressive tribe following Sanya. That tribe plays a role akin to an elite guard within their warlord faction. I reviewed the information on that tribe and noticed something peculiar.”
I pulled out several photos from my belongings and placed them on the table.
In the photos were soldiers equipped with automatic rifles featuring optical devices, wearing a white headband emblazoned with Sanya warlord propaganda.
Pointing to the firearms held by the soldiers in the images, I said, “They’re Kien Empire rifles.”
While Nasir checked the photos, I added more explanations for him.
“There’s a defense contractor in Kien called Grom. They supply optical sights, ergonomic grips, and buttstocks. The empire’s special forces, counter-terrorism units, airborne troops, marines, and light infantry heavily rely on their equipment.”
“Are these products made by that Grom company?”
“Indeed. I heard they’ve established a contract with the Imperial Ministry of Defense for supplies.”
The source of this information is Victor, an active arms broker. He sells military supplies to the Sanya warlords here.
Of course, saying that Sanya’s elite guard equals the imperial special forces doesn’t imply that they’re of the same caliber. Based on training or equipment quality, the special forces managed by the Reconnaissance Command are on an entirely different level compared to mere warlord “factions.”
The issue was that these soldiers possessed equipment that one would typically associate with the imperial special forces or Abas’s units. This fact signified that the Empire’s Information Agency was systematically supporting them.
“It seems they’ve received support after passing through the Empire’s Information Agency.”
“Is it from the Imperial Guard HQ or the Reconnaissance Command?”
“It’s likely the Reconnaissance Command.”
The intelligence agencies conducting overseas operations for the Kien Empire are the National Intelligence Agency, known as the Imperial Guard HQ, and the military intelligence branch called the Reconnaissance Command.
The Reconnaissance Command, which falls under the military’s intelligence agency, has been working for decades to nurture guerrillas, rebels, and warlords abroad.
And to the best of my knowledge, specifically due to the double agent recruited by Clevenz from the Imperial Guard HQ, the elite guard of the Sanya tribe is receiving direct support from the Reconnaissance Command.
What caught Clevenz’s attention was not just the information that the Reconnaissance Command was assisting warlords but rather the movements within the Empire’s intelligence agencies.
One double agent indicated that the recent activities between the Imperial Guard HQ and the Reconnaissance Command were unusual. Members of the overseas sector at the Guard HQ were aligned with noble interests and engaging in foolish plays, while the Reconnaissance Command had unilaterally drawn special forces into the imperial capital without any word.
These special forces are the 35th Independent Special Operations Regiment that was discovered shortly before Camila was dispatched north. The forces of the Reconnaissance Command that entered the imperial capital months ago are still stationed in Petrogard.
No one knows the intent behind the movements of the Reconnaissance Command’s troops, not even the double agent from the Imperial Guard HQ.
There were speculations about a coup attempt, but the Military Intelligence Agency, which had gathered intel through various routes, dismissed the coup hypothesis.
Since the imperial family did not respond to the sudden troop movements from the Reconnaissance Command, the interpretation was that such an action couldn’t have occurred without the emperor’s consent.
Leonie, who confirmed the relevant intelligence, remarked that something likely happened within the imperial family. Clevenz, for once, agreed with her opinion.
I had been called to meetings discussing that topic several times, but I tried to keep my statements to a minimum because the movement of the Empire’s intelligence agencies wasn’t the main point.
The significant fact right now is that the elite guard of the Sanya tribe is receiving support from the Reconnaissance Command.
I decided to take advantage of this elite guard.
“The optical equipment possessed by Sanya’s elite guard is something Hassan lacks. However, the automatic rifles now belong to Hassan as well.”
“Right. We imported them through you. So, you’re saying we should use those rifles.”
As expected, we clicked well together.
“Anyway, Asen isn’t likely to focus on minor features like optical devices. They will only concentrate on the fact that the Sanya elite guard attacked them.”
“What about the uniforms?”
“If we wear the military uniforms used by Sanya’s elite guard, it should suffice. If we can get our hands on armbands as well, that would be perfect.”
“That’s easy enough. Do you need any additional support?”
“Please identify the least monitored route from Hassan to Sanya. It would be great if you could either bribe the guards along that route or help them to let their guard down.”
Normally, an intelligence officer is supposed to handle such tasks, but if there’s a local supporter, it can be delegated without issues. After all, that was the point of paying a steep price for this arms deal.
Nasir readily agreed to that. His mindset was one of clearing the balance for the weapons he had received.
“If it’s about bribing, we already have someone embedded in Sanya, so there shouldn’t be any problem.”
“You’ve placed an information agent in Sanya?”
“He’s also planted in Asen. To be able to shoot first, you need to have eyes on the enemy, right?”
Perfect.
Nasir and I sat around the table, continuing our discussion about the operation. While the conversation flowed smoothly, there came a moment when Nasir began to find it challenging to understand the situation.
This was a natural phenomenon. The documentation created while planning this operation amounts to several hundred pages, and how many reference documents had I used? It wouldn’t be easy to grasp an operational plan synthesized from information produced by several intelligence agencies in just a 30-minute conversation.
Eventually, after speaking for quite a while, he fell silent, perhaps due to head pain from the complexity.
“Well, I understand for now. When will we commence?”
That’s obvious.
“Is tomorrow feasible?”
The sooner, the better.
“Come back right after the morning prayer. Tomorrow’s prayer will be at 5 a.m.”
The morning prayer refers to the prayer to Al-Yabd.
After setting the appointment, Nasir waved his hand to dismiss me.
I followed the guards waiting outside and left the building. Nasir’s female secretary gave me a polite farewell.
—
The negotiations have concluded.
I obtained the information I desired and secured the needed support. I returned to my accommodation in the vehicle.
Nasir suggested that I should stay the night due to the traveling distance, but I politely declined his offer. Since I had gathered sufficient information, staying longer at Hassan’s could lead to a situation where I might end up providing information in return. If I had already been treated as a guest, I couldn’t keep refusing questions; it would be more appropriate to get some sleep far away.
Of course, there was also a desire to rest.
Turning off the SUV engine and entering my accommodation, I organized the plan, drafted an interim report, and submitted it to the Military Intelligence Agency. I also activated eavesdropping equipment to monitor communications in the surrounding area.
I couldn’t eavesdrop on all communications, but this was a precautionary measure to prevent any leaks regarding this operation or any unexpected scenarios. While I slept, I assigned the task of analyzing encrypted communications to the signal intelligence analysts at the Military Intelligence Agency, along with brief information.
I placed my pistol near my pillow and closed my eyes. I managed to get about four hours of sleep.
When I woke up, I checked my device for any irregularities, and the message reported that everything was normal. Outside the window, it was still dimly dark.
Since there was still some time before the morning prayers began, I went downstairs to the kitchen to wake myself up. Just as I was about to take a sip of water, cautiously stepping down the creaking stairs—
“Did you wake up?”
Camila suddenly appeared and greeted me with a cheerful expression.
She smiled brightly and asked how I was doing.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. Nothing unusual happened overnight, right?”
“Nope.”
In the kitchen, Camila twisted her stiff neck and let out a yawn.
“I went out briefly yesterday, and you were sleeping like a corpse. There didn’t seem to be any point in waking you up, so I let you be. You must have been really tired.”
“A little.”
I quenched my throat with lukewarm water and sat down to eat with Camila.
For breakfast, we had lasagna. It wasn’t freshly baked lasagna from the oven, but rather just a reheated canned product.
Camila opened the steaming pot and pulled out the canned lasagna. The steam that emanated from it seemed not even hot; she picked up the heated can with her bare hands and shook off the moisture.
“Oh, by the way, I didn’t realize this, but these days, I feel like I can’t sense heat. I hardly get any burns. Is it because of the magic?”
“Does learning magic automatically make you immune to it…?”
It’s already been over 15 years since Ayla became a magician. It’s surprising to hear that elemental magicians have immunity to burns.
Of course, magicians from the elemental school are often assigned to things related to elements because magic is required for their tasks, not because there’s a need to employ someone with some immunity system.
I stared blankly at Camila as she transferred some boiling hot lasagna from the pot to the plate. She was seemingly fascinated by her own hands, which had no blisters, gazing at them repeatedly.
The canned lasagna had the taste of those widely available ready-to-eat meals you wouldn’t feel worth the money if you purchased them.
To fill myself sufficiently, I started shoving food into my mouth and only began to speak to her after I had eaten about half of my lasagna.
“Camila.”
“Why did you call?”
“I might have to be away for a while.”
“Suddenly?”
Camila tilted her head to one side, silently asking what was going on.
I answered her question briefly.
“Work.”
Upon hearing that it was due to intelligence agency duties, Camila nodded, appearing to understand. She seemed to gather that she roughly got the gist of it.
“It seems you have a business trip planned. Where to?”
“To another warlord’s territory.”
“Hmm…”
Setting her fork down for a moment, she clasped her hands and suddenly spoke to me in a voice filled with concern.
“Is it a dangerous matter?”
For some reason, I found it difficult to answer immediately. While rummaging through my lasagna, I finally replied after some deliberation.
“No.”
“Then that’s a relief. You’re not taking me with you for this trip?”
“Yes. The location is too far.”
“That’s a pity. I’d like to see another warlord’s domain while I’m at it.”
I provided her with information to alleviate her worries. It appeared to serve as some consolation for her.
“Oh, I see. Well, make sure to eat well before you leave. Please wait a moment; it’ll be ready soon.”
“…”
I silently watched Camila cheerfully humming to herself as she stood in front of the pot. Poking the untouched lasagna with my fork, I stared at her silently.
As I continued to prod the cold, hardened lasagna, I suddenly burst into laughter. Setting down my fork, I jokingly commented.
“You’re not planning to eat that, are you?”
There was no response.
Instead, her slender fingers pinched my thigh.
I jumped up with a yelp, while Camila stuck out her tongue as if to say, “Serves you right.”
This had become a typical, ordinary day.
—
The moment the dawn prayers concluded was near the time when daylight began to break.
Crossing the desert where darkness and light coexist, I arrived at the stronghold of the Hassan Warlocks. I was attempting to park in the usual external parking lot when a guard approached and instructed me to avoid parking there and instead proceed to the underground parking lot. It seemed that was the gathering point.
In the underground parking lot, twelve soldiers awaited me.
They were wearing uniforms used by the Kien Empire forces years ago, complete with the distinctive gear of imperial soldiers and automatic rifles. Moreover, they had masks and keffiyeh headdresses concealing their faces, as well as armbands emblazoned with symbols representing the Sanya warlord faction.
Looking at Hassan’s elite unit disguised as Sanya’s elite guard, I thought to myself that it was all a bit too obvious.
Even though they were disguised, there was still a need to at least attempt to keep their affiliations hidden. Which fool would reveal their identity when executing a surprise attack? Even the most dim-witted warlords wouldn’t engage in such behavior.
“May the blessings of the Earth God be with you. I am Asud, and I’ll be the commander for this operation. I request that you follow my leadership until the operation concludes.”
Standing in front of Hassan’s soldiers in traditional Mauritanian dress that concealed my ethnicity and identity with the keffiyeh covering my face, they quickly returned their greetings.
“May the blessings of the Earth God shelter you.”
“Do you happen to have something like a black cloth?”
Pointing at the armband, I inquired, and one of the soldiers looked puzzled as he replied.
“We do have some.”
“Then cover your armbands. Don’t tie them too tightly. If you reveal your affiliations plainly, it will stand out too much.”
A moment later, the soldiers returned with cloth they had procured from somewhere and covered their armbands. In the meantime, I produced a map and laid it on the table.
The spot marked with a black pen was near the Sanya tribe’s location.
I drew several circles and looked at the soldiers while explaining the plan.
“Asen is not likely to monitor the junctions between Sanya and Hassan tribes. However, they will be watching the points of transit from Sanya to Asen and from Hassan to Asen.”
I drew a line along the path.
“Sanya is keeping an eye on all routes leading from Hassan to their territory, yet you, Sheikh, have secured one of those routes for us. We’ll infiltrate through this point.”
This was the very route I had requested from Nasir yesterday.
“I will be moving separately from you. You are to proceed ahead and make your way to this location near the Sanya tribe. For convenience, we’ll refer to this place as Point A.”
The plan is straightforward.
The soldiers disguised as Sanya’s elite guard will advance to Point A. Once they arrive, they will move directly to Point B, located on Asen’s territory.
Point B will be the rendezvous point (RP) where the soldiers and I will converge. Once gathered at Point B, we will conduct some final preparations before moving on to the next operation.
“The assault will take place at dawn. We should begin moving right away if we want to take our time. I’ll provide communication timing just minutes before we reach Point A—upon arrival, when we leave, and so on—you’ll reach out to me at those times.”
One soldier raised his hand with a question.
“Are we not supposed to communicate at any other times?”
“Correct. Enter a wireless silence.”
The soldiers Nasir selected were all elite troops drawn from Hassan’s ranks. They had military service backgrounds and extensive combat experience.
The soldiers immediately grasped the meaning. I handed the troops a note detailing the scheduled communication timings. The note was written in such a manner that if it were captured, it wouldn’t cause complications in the operation.
I instructed them to observe wireless silence unless exceptional situations arose and sent them off first. The soldiers, having checked their weapons and gear, split up into vehicles to head toward the Sanya territory.
I chose one vehicle parked in the lot. It was provided by Nasir. A model that was commonly sold in the area, it blended easily with civilian vehicles and could easily be mixed in with the traffic.
Emerging onto the smoke-filled road, I took a moment for one last phone call.
Timing-wise and situationally, now was the last opportunity to communicate. Clutching the phone, I pondered for a while before dialing the number.
And a moment later.
“Hello?”
Camila answered the phone.
“It’s me, Camila.”
“Oh, Frederick. Your call indicates that you must be safe now. Did you arrive at your destination?”
“I’m about to leave now.”
I gripped the phone while taking control of the steering wheel. My time to converse was limited, so I cut straight to the chase.
“If you check the second drawer in my room, you’ll find spare passports and cash. Would you check on that for me?”
“Just a second. Hmm…. Here, ah! Found it! What do I do with this?”
“…”
A brief silence passed.
Abruptly, feeling an unease through the connection, Camila asked with a somewhat grave tone.
“Is something wrong?”
“If….”
What I meant was entirely theoretical.
“If things go amiss, use that to return to the continent. You can opt for illegal passage, or find the Empire’s embassy.”
“Why are you suddenly talking like this? You’re making me feel anxious.”
“I’m just considering the possibilities. There’s a number written on that passport. It’s a contact for a smuggler, so you can get in touch at any time.”
Preparing to give her a way back in case anything went wrong, I wanted to ensure she had a safe option back should there be a problem regarding my safety.
However, the response that came was a little unexpected.
“Don’t worry.”
Camila spoke up. I could almost hear her giggle on the other end.
“I wouldn’t go anywhere without Frederick, would I? Remember our promise last time that I’d help no matter what happened.”
“…”
“So, put aside your worries. If something really concerns you, just shout. I’ll come to help.”
If only she’d say that when it mattered.
I couldn’t help but let out a smile as I revved the engine, filling the vehicle with the booming sound of the engine. It was almost time to set off.
“Okay. I’ll be back shortly.”
“Travel safe! I’ll take good care of home while you’re away.”
“Don’t eat too much just because I’m not around.”
“Wha-what! When have I ever overeaten…?”
“The box of treats we stacked in the hotel, whose was that?”
“Ah, fine! I’ll only have a bit!”
Unable to hide her embarrassment, Camila shouted back at me as I pressed the accelerator.
The tires of the vehicle screeched against the gravelly road, leaving deep tracks behind.
The sound of gravel and sand brushing against the tires echoed in the atmosphere.
A single vehicle sped off, kicking up dust and racing out toward the horizon of the desert.
To the far-off border.
—
D-DAY 8 p.m. I crossed into Sanya’s territory and met with Hassan’s soldiers at Point B.
After allowing for a slight buffer of time, the soldiers gathered had adequate rest. I stood by the vehicle, propping up my rifle while smoking a cigarette.
D+1 1 a.m. The Hassan soldiers completed their preparations and besieged Asen Warlord’s drug cultivation facility. Designated as “the kitchen,” this was the facility producing cocaine in the city’s heart. Soldiers, blending into the shadows, communicated with subtle signals as they approached “the kitchen.” Only a handful of guards remained at the closed “kitchen.”
D+1 1:20 a.m. One of the guards on duty began to doze off. Perhaps unable to withstand the drowsiness, or perhaps a habit of falling asleep at that hour, the guard hung his head while seated in his chair, his rifle lying beside him.
Such a movement was never to rise again.
D+1 1:24 a.m. A person presumed to be from the internal guard stepped outside. With a cigarette in his mouth, he fumbled to unfasten his pants and targeted the wall. The blade swiftly and precisely pierced through his carotid artery, and the sticky blood pooled at his boots. The mingling of urine and blood couldn’t be distinguished on the dirt floor.
D+1 1:30 a.m. Hassan’s soldiers, who had surrounded the kitchen, launched their surprise attack. As the leading soldier opened the door, a few grenades entered and detonated. The deafening blasts were followed by screams erupting within, as soldiers shouted and pushed their way into the building.
Hassan’s military, made up of former soldiers, enacted an impeccable reenactment of their past raids on drug facilities as army infantry and marines.
They proved that within the corrupt government forces—often degraded to the level of insects—there exist soldiers capable of fighting back.
D+1 1:45 a.m. The alarms began to sound, sounding sharp enough to drown out the rattle of gunfire. Support troops presumed to be from Asen began to rush in from the southeast. They engaged the Hassan soldiers who were responsible for perimeter defense.
During the process, an unexplained fire broke out, resulting in six fatalities. Four were shot down, while two succumbed to the flames.
D+1 2:12 a.m. The troop reinforcement from the southeast regrouped outside the kitchen. The Hassan resistance had proven more formidable than expected.
It was at this point that I ordered a retreat after fulfilling the objective of facility destruction. The soldiers expressed a wish to take away the remains of their fallen comrades, but I opposed it. Not only was there no time to retrieve the bodies, but the primary reason was that evidence indicating Sanya’s attack on Asen was necessary.
Four additional bodies perished in the flames.
D+1 3:40 a.m. The previously retreated troops from Asen began to redeploy at the kitchen site. The number of their forces had quadrupled, and corrupted local police officers were also sighted amid their ranks.
They discovered the fallen guards’ bodies littered around the smoking ruins of the cocaine facility alongside the unidentified bodies. While it couldn’t be determined due to the fire, the charred remnants of a military uniform found among the corpses bore the black cloth of a Sanya elite guard.
D+1 4:18 a.m. News spread among the Asen warlords. Their command had identified the kitchen attack as an act by Sanya.
The warlord command, divided between attentiveness and a desire for retribution, began gathering for an emergency meeting. The cautious advisors argued that it was prudent to ascertain whether Sanya had indeed orchestrated the assault before deciding on retribution, while the hardliner advisors clamored for immediate revenge.
Having acquired the intelligence, Nasir reached out to me to seek counsel.
D+1 7 p.m. As the sun set over the desert, the ammunition depot located within Sanya’s domain came under fire.
Assailants stormed the facility, raining machine-gun fire upon the barracks and detonating watchtowers. In the process, numerous Sanya troops lost their lives. The ammunition depot was engulfed in flames.
As the situation unraveled, Sanya began their investigations without delay. Shortly thereafter, they received information from implanted informants within Asen and Hassan, indicating that the Sanya elite guard had been the force behind the attack on Asen’s kitchen.
The informants collectively asserted that Sanya’s assault on the ammunition depot was a gallant and justified retaliation.
However, the identity of the individual who first reported this information remained unknown.
As all propaganda tends to be.